Reconciling Conservation and Investment in the Gambella Omo Landscape, Ethiopia

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1 Reconciling Conservation and Investment in the Gambella Omo Landscape, Ethiopia Cherie Enawgaw Beyene Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority March 2013

2 Background Ethiopia is a vast country with a land area of 1.12 million sq. km wide variety of topography and climate Four distinct wildlife areas- highland, rift valley, western & South western lowland and eastern arid areas Potential Transboundary PAs land tenure in Ethiopia As per the Constitution - fundamental title to land is with the State, People have the constitutional right to farm and graze land for their own use, A comprehensive certification process has been carried out mainly in settled areas But in pastoral areas most land is held and used communally as pastoralists move between dry and wet season grazing,

3 Background Investment Agriculture backbone of the economy The government's GTP has shifted development from small-holder agriculture to large scale commercial investment 3.4 mil. hectares of land has been identified as potential for commercial investment- only 1 million hectares is under large scale agriculture (over 1,000 hectares) - this includes government schemes, land in the Land Bank, and smaller investments handled by regional governments. All land > 5000 hectares handled by federal government Investment < 5000 hectars handled by regions

4 Background--- Wildlife resources Diversified Fauna and flora, 2794 wild animal-39 endemic >7000 plant species-10-12% endemic PAs Covers 14% of the country Table 1. Management of Protected areas Type of PAs Management of Protected and area coverage in sq.km Total Area, Km 2 Federal Regions Community Private National Parks 11(26031) 10 (8444) Wildlife Sanctuaries 2 (7036) Wildlife Reserves 1 6 (20796) Controlled Hunting Areas 8 (79463)* 13 (8558) Community Conservation areas 4 (11565) Open hunting areas 5 (858) 858 Biosphere reserves 3(4005) 4005 Total Note: 7 NPs, 4 CCA,3 BR established since 2000

5 Background However, in the past, many protected areas have lost their established biodiversity. They are accessible to and heavily utilised by people and their livestock, In response, the Government of Ethiopia has included environmental concerns in the Federal Constitution, formed new policies and passed new legislation, In 2007 the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), was created under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,, with new mission and vision Vision -To be one of the top five African countries in 2020 in terms of wildlife destination

6 The Gambella-Omo biodiversity complex Encompasses the Gambella, Omo and Mago National Parks and Tama wildlife reserve- but all not gazeted one of the most bio-diverse, unique and little known wilderness area in the world, About 1 million White eared kob & elephants migrate between S. Sudan and Ethiopia- One of the largest mammal migration in the world The biggest wetland in the country with high fish diversity (107 spp.) Four major rivers crossing the park- (Baro, Akobo, Jilo and Alwero-part of the Nile basin)

7 The Gambella-Omo biodiversity complex The Omo-Tama-Mago landscape conserves an outstanding biodiversity of the country,. Home for Eland, elephants, Tiang, Giraffe,Wild dog, Lion, Leopard 7

8 Key Conservation issues In the Gambella-Omo landscape Encroachment- settlement, subsistence cultivation, livestock grazing Poaching Focal area for investment expansion, Unsustainable fishing, poaching and deforestation No initial consultation prior to investment White eared kob

9 Opportunities to integrate land use options Mechanized farming, Subsistence farming, Fisheries, Livestock rearing and pastoralism -Over 80% of the landscape is undisturbed The highest number of fish species in the country, which can supply between 15,417 and 17,308 tons per year Natural Resources Management including: Community Conservation areas, National Parks, Forest Priority areas Game Farming/ranchibg- like Crocodile ranch, Ostrich farm, Eco and Cultural Tourism Development Government attention for wildlife tourism in the GTP and Increasing tourist flow to the park Willingness of South Sudan and Ethipia to establish transbounday park

10 EWCA s Endeavors towards reconciling conservation and investment in the Gambella -Omo landscape -GNP Aerial, ground & socioeconomic surveys-identification of: Potential investment sites key wildlife, settlement areas Consultative meetings Participatory Re-demarcation, placing beacons, map & Gazettment Further research on Kob Migrationunderway, Villages Houses Country Survey Boundary Protected Areas JikaoControlled Hunting Area GambellaNational Park TedoControlled Hunting Area Kilometers Mizan-TeferiControlled Hunting Area Gambella 2009 Reconnaissance Survey AkoboControlled Hunting Area

11 Areas reallocated for PAS Re-demarcated mark Duma swamp he allocated for Shoe bill, buffalo, Roan Antelope, Nile lechwe habitat P0t3ntial investment site Coridor-8000 he CHA Farm site Key wildlife habitat Potential CCA potential investment site

12 Reconciling Conservation and investment in the Lower Omo Valley Kuraz Development project---no initial consultation Key wildlife areas and corridors included in the project command area EWCA Claimed the key habitats, based on the report entitled Existing challenges: plantation development versus wildlife conservation in the Omo- Tama Mago complex Attracted the attention of key conservation partners and concerned Government officials Kuraz development project initiated stakeholders workshop -- Team established (drawn from concerned federal, regional, and local representatives The main objective of the field work was to identify areas with most potential wildlife resources, migratory routes, and World Heritage Sites within the proposed Kuraz Sugar Development Project command area and propose measures that can minimize possible impacts of the development plan on the resources and the development plan. Team s key recommendations were: To delineate key wildlife areas (10,000 he) into the park to leave wildlife corridor to insure ecological connectivity of the Omotama-Mago complex, Cca in Tama Extend the boundary to Kenya- Sudan border- to protect elephant migration routes and re-demarcate and gazate the parks Recommendation approved by higher officials

13 Much better collaboration of stakeholder and partners towards holistic and integrated development approach than ever before in Ethiopia Thank you! 13